For example: if someone does a three year retreat on Green Tara and completes approach, then begins a three year retreat on Red Tara, will progress come faster and easier the second time due to the Green Tara practice?

Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.

"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.Through the qualities of meditating in that way,Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."

For example: if someone does a three year retreat on Green Tara and completes approach, then begins a three year retreat on Red Tara, will progress come faster and easier the second time due to the Green Tara practice?

I think the point of all Tara's are to recognize and sustain the natural state. The various forms and colors are of minor importance.

/magnus

"To reject practice by saying, 'it is conceptual!' is the path of fools. A tendency of the inexperienced and something to be avoided."- Longchenpa

Except when the minor siddhi's manifest. Then the color and form is very important although the range of minor siddhi's overlaps. But actually this question applies to sublime realizations as well short of the major siddhi of enlightenment.

Konchog1 wrote:Yes, it's this question. With a twist.

Does progress with one Tara carry over to others?

For example: if someone does a three year retreat on Green Tara and completes approach, then begins a three year retreat on Red Tara, will progress come faster and easier the second time due to the Green Tara practice?

You will need to ask an intense Tara practitioner. Perhaps someone has addressed this in a namthar or perhaps Jamgon Kongtrul addressed it?

"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.Through the qualities of meditating in that way,Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."

Konchog1 wrote:Bardor Rinpoche says that White Tara and Kurukulle are included in the 21 Taras. Also that one can practice one of the 21's mantra separately after a retreat on Green Tara's mantra.

BUT, then why are there separate empowerments and mantras for White Tara and Kurukulle? That seems to imply there is no overlap.

Why would different empowerment's imply that there is no overlap? I don't think that the essence of the four empowerment's are different in a white Tara and a Kurukulle empowerment. In that case I think the what class of Tantra it belongs to can have a bigger importance. So, the mantra and the visualization connected with each empowerment is a minor detail that initially have a great importance for the practitioner of the sadhana but that actually are not that important in the major effort to fully realize the four empowerment's. Anyway, Tara is always Tara no matter how she appear.

/magnus

"To reject practice by saying, 'it is conceptual!' is the path of fools. A tendency of the inexperienced and something to be avoided."- Longchenpa

Konchog1 wrote:Bardor Rinpoche says that White Tara and Kurukulle are included in the 21 Taras. Also that one can practice one of the 21's mantra separately after a retreat on Green Tara's mantra.

BUT, then why are there separate empowerments and mantras for White Tara and Kurukulle? That seems to imply there is no overlap.

Why would different empowerment's imply that there is no overlap? I don't think that the essence of the four empowerment's are different in a white Tara and a Kurukulle empowerment. In that case I think the what class of Tantra it belongs to can have a bigger importance. So, the mantra and the visualization connected with each empowerment is a minor detail that initially have a great importance for the practitioner of the sadhana but that actually are not that important in the major effort to fully realize the four empowerment's. Anyway, Tara is always Tara no matter how she appear.

/magnus

Oh well, that settles it then.

I still would like a quote to this effect by a Lama though to make sure.

Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.

"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.Through the qualities of meditating in that way,Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."